StudyDesk Scholarships
About the internship
The UNICEF Internship Programme gives students and recent graduates direct work experience inside the United Nations Children’s Fund — supporting programmes for children’s health, education, nutrition, protection and emergency response. Internships run 6 to 26 weeks, are paid with a monthly stipend, and are offered in person, remotely or hybrid depending on the office and role. There is no single 2026 deadline: vacancies are advertised year-round and each carries its own closing date, so the programme is effectively rolling.
Eligibility
- At least 18 years old at the time of application.
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD programme, or graduated within the past two years.
- Strong academic performance in a relevant field.
- Proficient in at least one UNICEF working language: English, French or Spanish.
- No immediate relatives working with UNICEF, and no relatives in the intern’s reporting line.
- Some positions are nationals-only; others are open internationally — check each vacancy.
- No prior professional work experience required.
Benefits
- Monthly stipend (amount varies by duty station).
- Possible one-time lump sum towards travel or visa costs for some placements.
- Flexible modes: in-person, remote or hybrid depending on the vacancy.
- No application fee.
Documents required
Applications go through UNICEF’s online recruitment portal: build your UNICEF Careers profile and attach a CV/résumé and a cover letter tailored to the specific role. Individual vacancies may add their own items — read the vacancy notice, not a generic checklist.
How to apply
- Browse open internshipsSearch current internship vacancies on the official UNICEF Careers portal (jobs.unicef.org).
- Check the vacancy’s own closing dateThere is no global 2026 deadline — each posting closes on its own date.
- Create your UNICEF Careers profileComplete the online recruitment profile carefully.
- Attach a CV and a role-specific cover letterTailor both to the team and the work described.
- Submit before that vacancy’s deadlineThere is no application fee at any stage.
FAQs
Yes — interns receive a monthly stipend that varies by duty station. UNICEF does not publish a single official figure; check the vacancy notice for the location-specific amount.
There is no single deadline. Vacancies are advertised year-round on the UNICEF Careers portal, each with its own closing date.
Applicants aged 18+ who are enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate or PhD programme — or graduated within the past two years — with strong academics and proficiency in English, French or Spanish.
Yes — UNICEF offers in-person, remote and hybrid internships depending on the vacancy. The posting states the mode.
Through the official UNICEF Careers portal (jobs.unicef.org): build your profile, attach a CV and a tailored cover letter, and submit before the vacancy’s own closing date.
Verified 20 Oct 2026 via UNICEF’s official Careers portal (jobs.unicef.org, linked from unicef.org/careers) plus two corroborating guides: rolling vacancies year-round with per-vacancy closing dates (no single 2026 deadline); 6–26 week duration; 18+; enrolled or graduated within 2 years; strong academics; English/French/Spanish proficiency; no-relatives rule; nationals-only vs international per vacancy; monthly stipend (duty-station-dependent — exact figure not in the official notification, so the “USD 1,700/month” third-party figure is omitted as official fact); possible travel/visa lump sum; no application fee.
